Friday, July 25, 2008

Moving.

I really like the idea of re-arranging my furniture, re-decorating our bedroom, color - coordinating my bookcase, and finally, as i have mentioned before, re-organizing my closet. and while i know it's not practical to do any of these before we move, in a little over a month, i am not looking forward to moving.

maybe it's that i'll be in a new, smaller town with no job, maybe it's because we have yet to find the perfect apartment (i love the one we're in now in kc) or maybe it's because packing boxes begins to really stink after about 5 minutes.

i think it may be more packing up everything that's bothering me the most. i mean, we own a lot of stuff. it just accumulates. don't ask me how, it is a complete mystery.

so the other day while i was snooping around the martha stweart site looking at design ideas i ran across this handy checklist, and while i am not financially stable enough to hire movers (and thus about half the list below doesn't apply to me), i still think there are some handy tips.

so thank you martha stweart.com for making this checklist at just the right time. :) and here it is:

Moving Essentials: Moving Checklist and Moving Box labels

6 Weeks Before
Hire a Mover
Ask friends for recommendations, and get quotes from three licensed companies. On-site estimates tend to be more accurate, whether pricing is by weight and distance or a flat or hourly rate. Decide if the movers or you will pack (regardless, you may want to wrap fragile or costly items yourself). Ask if the quote is binding or nonbinding, what charges could arise, and what insurance is included. If necessary, contact your insurance company for additional coverage. Request a copy of the signed contract.

Stay Organized
Dedicate a three-ring binder to move-related paperwork, such as to-do lists, contracts, receipts, checklists, and phone numbers.

5 Weeks Before
Organize Your Belongings
Conduct a room-by-room survey to determine what you plan to keep, sell, and donate.

Document Valuables
Have items such as artwork and antiques appraised in case they get damaged. Photograph or videotape them, and upload the images to your computer. Also save them to a CD, and store it with your small valuables (see "1 Week Before," below).

4 Weeks Before
Gather Materials
Stock up on moving supplies, including boxes, box cutters, tape (packing, masking, and blue painters), tape dispensers, wrapping material (bubble, plastic, and tissue paper), and labels (see Packing Strategies below). If in doubt, purchase extra; you can return any unused products. Wardrobe boxes, with built-in bars for hangers, can transport clothing as well as light fixtures. Used boxes from bookstores, which are built to carry compact but heavy loads, are excellent for most other items.

3 Weeks Before
Start Packing
Box infrequently used items, including the contents of the garage, the attic, and other storage areas, as well as out-of-season clothing, holiday decorations, books, and special-occasion dishware. Number the boxes, and keep track of the contents on a master inventory list. Try to limit each box's weight to enable easy lifting. Fill large boxes with pillows and other light things, and reserve smaller boxes for your heavier possessions. Always reinforce the bottoms with packing tape. Secure fragile objects with cushioned packaging material and painters' tape, which releases easily. Pack electronics and small appliances in their original packaging or in snugly fitting boxes.

Color-Code Rooms
Assign a color to each room, and mark boxes and furniture (be mindful of delicate surfaces) with coordinating stickers to ensure the movers will know at a glance where everything should go.

Notify Utility Services
Request that your utilities and phone and Internet service be disconnected the day after you leave and installed in your new home the day before you arrive.

Call a Locksmith
Arrange to have the locks in your new home changed on moving day, or earlier if convenient.

Hire a Cleaning Company
Consider having housekeepers scrub both of the spaces -- so you don't have to -- preparing the new house in the morning before you arrive and tidying up the old one after you have left.

2 Weeks Before
Continue Packing
Before you pack the bulk of your belongings, think about whether you'd like to do so by room, by category (such as sports equipment and formal dinnerware), or by another system that works for you.

Change Your Address
To have your mail forwarded, complete a change-of-address form online or at the post office. Update newspaper and magazine subscriptions, and notify banks and credit card companies.

1 Week Before
Prepare Your Moving Papers
Print an information sheet for the movers with the old and new addresses, directions, and your cell phone number. Have a cashier's check or a credit card (if accepted) on hand, plus cash for a tip.

Finish Packing
Box your remaining items, setting aside sufficient clothing for the week ahead, as well as a suitcase or two to transport it.

Create a Last-Out, First-In Box
Pack your day-to-day necessities so that they're together in one place, including bedding, towels, toiletries, toilet paper, basic tools, cleaning supplies, medications, a camera (to document anything broken in transit), snacks, a few dishes and utensils, and a coffeepot -- plus coffee and mugs. Take the box with you in your car.

Stash Small Valuables
Keep jewelry and important paperwork together. Have a friend hold on to them until you get settled, or lock them in the trunk of your car on moving day.

Moving Day
Take One Last Look
Do a walk-through before movers arrive to verify everything is packed and afterward to make sure nothing was left. Give your keys to the real estate agent or landlord.

Direct Traffic
Arrange for someone to be at your new home when the movers arrive to oversee them and answer questions. Check items off the inventory list as they're unloaded.

Inspect for Damages
Photograph relevant objects before signing the release, also known as the bill of lading.

Start to Settle In
Test faucets, toilets, utilities, phones, smoke detectors, and security systems. Turn on the water heater, if necessary. Begin to unpack, discarding anything that no longer serves you. Flatten boxes to recycle, or store them for next time.

Packing Strategies
A few tricks can help make your move more manageable, ensuring your belongings will travel safely and easily from one home to the next.

Add Handles
If your moving boxes don't have pre-punched grips, make a set of your own. Using a box cutter, create inverted triangles on opposite sides of an empty box. The top edge of each triangle should be wide enough to accommodate all hand sizes. Take care not to overpack your boxes, as they'll be more difficult to maneuver, with or without handles.

Label Boxes
Download our moving-labels, and print it onto self-adhesive paper. Write your name and the box's contents on each label. Assign a color to every room, and mark the boxes with coordinating stickers so you and the movers will know where each one should go. When coding furniture, be mindful where you affix stickers.


Protect Glass
Make a masking-tape X across mirrors and framed artwork. While this technique won't prevent shattering, it will help absorb shock and hold the glass in the frame should the item be dropped. Pack objects in a tightly fitting box clearly marked "fragile" on all sides. Make sure the corners are well-padded, so the objects won't slide around.


Wrap Furniture
When transporting anything with doors or drawers, such as bureaus, cabinets, or large appliances, wind a few layers of plastic wrap around the item to secure it. This eliminates the need for tape, which can damage delicate surfaces, and helps safeguard against scratches. Plastic wrap can also protect upholstered furniture against dirt.

First Published: April 2008

my unhealthy addiction: hgtv

i kid you not. i think i'm addicted to hgtv. unfortunately, i don't have cable at my house but any time i visit the rents you can be sure at some point i will be nailed to "divine design" or "colorsplash" to name a few. i start to miss those shows when i've been away from them for too long (i warned you it was unhealthy).

today i decided i would post some bedroom inspiration from the hgtv website because a) i love hgtv and b) i'm wanting to go in a new direction with our bedroom once we move so i'm on the lookout for ideas that i could do in an affordable and fashionable way.

i love how this huge print acts as a headboard while elongating the small room.

i love this headboard. give me a headboard with tufted buttons and i will love it. i really like how this room feels so breezy and relaxing.
this below is a huge room. i mean seriously, maybe someone out there has a bedroom this big but it's certainly not me. i do like how they have the dresser at the end of the bed (interesting effect) and how they have arranged the desk and sitting area within the room.
this room below is oh so eclectic, but i love it! mixing crazy with classic.

here's a couple of questions for you readers (if I have any ?):
*do you feel as though a bed must have a headboard and if not what could act as a headboard?
*what is your favorite decor idea from your room?
*how do you incorporate a desk into a bedroom without overtaking the room?

have a happy friday :)
-katie mae

Thursday, July 24, 2008

yes. i'll have one of everything.

i love j.crew. and even more so when it's on sale. take a look at some of what i found on their website under the sale section.
check out these adorable yellow flats. perfect for the rest of the summer season. not to mention next spring. :)

hello beautiful dress. you look like you would be perfect for fall.
yellow shirts are just fun. plus the frills = really fun.
this little jacket looks perfect for autumn.
i think if you wear this yellow dress you must be in a good mood. it's just too happy of a dress not to be.
polka dot wellies. yes please.
this dress looks like it would be a perfect outfit for fall or winter.
hello sweater. you are so cheery and fun. i would wear you with everything.
check out this trench coat...adorable.
polka dots are my favorite.
again frills on a dress. love it.

this tank would be great for the rest of summer.
hello khaki jacket. you are fun.
i love how simple yet modern this dress is.
stripes are always in, no matter the season. especially pink stripes.

*happy deal shopping. hurray for sales. :)

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

because bathrooms can be beautiful.

i love the romantic, yet practical feel of this bathroom. not to mention the pink is fabulous. i want a bathroom with pink in it.


closet organization

i love organizing my closet. i'm not quite sure why. and to be honest right now my closet doesn't look so great and it's really getting under my skin. usually about once a month i try to reorganize my closet which involves pouring out all of my clothes to see if i want to rid myself of any of them (which of course i usually end up ridding myself of nothing) and then taking the huge mess and trying to put it all back together again-better than i found it.

i really want to reorgainze my closet now, but since we're moving in about a month i figure it might be a useless cause. i am excited already to organize my closet in our new place.

so since my closets a wreck right now and i don't think you want to see it, i thought i would post some closet pictures that inspire me.

here goes:


i love when everything has it's place and is color coordinated.


:) color coordinated.
shoes. i wish i had a giant bookcase for my shoes. looking at this picture is kind of funny. if this was a girl there would be a million different kinds of shoes, for a man it's same shoe, different color. (all variations of black and brown)
i heart this closet.
watch out joplin. beacuse in about a month i will be orgazinging my closet and it just might end in a masterpiece. maybe i'll sell tickets to it. ;)

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

it's always better when we're together.

this is evan. isn't he cute? yeah i'm a lucky gal.

i have the best husband ever.
seriously i do.
and today 2 years ago we were walking down the aisle saying "i do".

in the last two years we've done a lot:
*we've called kansas city home.
*we've had lots of fun:

*we've celebrated holidays:
*we've traveled near and far:
*we've gone to concerts, weddings, birthday parties, etc. (pic taken by photographer at adam and abby's wedding):

i cannot think of a better way to have spent my last two years than with my best friend and love, evan. marriage isn't always easy but getting to spend my life with evan, makes it totally worth it.

Monday, July 21, 2008

penelope movie




so i said there would be more to come. and here it is.

i know film critics have found quite a few things wrong with the movie, penelope but i wanted to share a few reasons i enjoyed the movie.

*the fashion - the fashion in this movie is beautiful. in my opinion up there with sex and the city movie and marie antionette. penelope wears a coat throughout much of the movie that is purple and adorned with buttons and in my opinion, absolutely adorable. i want a coat like that. the movie features eclectic fashion combining polka dot tights with cute heels and skirts.

*the set - i love love love this set. penelope's room in the movie is breathtaking - magical even. the set designer was a genius. i also loved the city, it reminded me of a cross between london and new york. taking the best of both cities of course.

*the cast - seriously. christina ricci, james mccavoy, catherine o'hara and reese witherspoon. who wouldn't love this cast? i thought the casting of christina ricci and james mccavoy's characters were right on. and catherine o'hara is hilarious.

speaking of...

nick olsen. check out this great idea for apartment decor. decorate your fridge.

two examples.
the first is a from a how to tutorial he did for a newspaper article.
the second one is from his own apartment.


decorator nick olsen

decorator and blogger for domino, this guy has quite the taste. i love how he has decorated his apartment. i especially like the wall color.